As NBA Summer League action gets set to begin in Las Vegas on Friday–the first time all 30 teams will have their young players competing against one another–a pair of former Tar Heels have already gotten themselves warmed up and then some in Sacramento and Salt Lake City.

Playing in the California Classic as a member of the Sacramento Kings, 2017 ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson flashed some of the scoring potential he showed at UNC as he averaged 17 points per game across the Kings’ three contests.

Meanwhile, Utah Jazz forward Tony Bradley–a one-and-done player who filled a key role off the bench during the Tar Heels’ run to the 2017 NCAA championship–was seventh in scoring and led all players in rebounding at the Salt Lake City Summer League.

Both players were first round picks coming out of Chapel Hill for the 2017 NBA Draft.

Tony Bradley averaged a double-double over his first three NBA Summer League games this offseason, as he tries to earn more playing time for the Utah Jazz in 2018-19. (Photo via Associated Press)

Jackson’s scoring average was good enough to place him third among all players in Sacramento, even after the 6-foot-8-inch wing finished with just five points in the Kings’ 98-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

On Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, the Kings were defeated soundly, 71-54, but Jackson led the way with 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the floor.

He then finished up play in Sacramento by pouring in a team-high 26 points in an 86-76 loss to the Miami Heat.

Out in Salt Lake City, Bradley used his his 7-foot-5-inch wingspan to show that he has all the tools to become a double-double machine as he continues to progress as a professional.

The former McDonald’s All-American averaged 14.7 points and 12.3 rebounds in the Jazz’s three games at home.

Bradley posted 11 points and 11 rebounds in the team’s 92-76 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, before adding 18 points and 14 rebounds in a 95-92 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Thursday saw the Jazz defeat the Atlanta Hawks 92-87 with Bradley contributing 15 points and 12 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double.

Although the competition isn’t exactly the same level as what they’ll see once the NBA regular season begins, both Jackson and Bradley are showing this summer why they were first round picks to begin with–which should be a bright sign for both the Kings and the Jazz as they move into the future.

 

 

 

Photo via Associated Press

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